LANGUAGE AND LYRICAL CONTENT OF OGU MASE MUSIC: AN EXPOSITORY STUDY OF MIPA MAWU AND AVALE SONG TEXTS

Abstract

Song texts as a form of utterance are inspired from the use of the song as an avenue for communication, reflecting personal, social and communal experiences. These reflections are then organized into what we formally refer to as themes. Themes are a further replication of the daily activities, beliefs, events, happenings and experiences of the society. Obviously, song texts are expressed with the use of language. Merriam (1963:187) noted that the most obvious means of understanding human behaviour in connection with music is the song text. Nketia (1974:189) explained that the treatment of song as a form of speech utterance is inspired by the importance of the song as an avenue for verbal communication. Agordoh (1994) consequently, concluded that language serves as a vehicle that transports song texts to the understanding of the listener.